Bill McCann

As expected, Austin Energy officials got their first barrage of criticism of a proposed electric rate increase last night when a dozen speakers, generally representing residential ratepayers, spoke out at a special meeting of the advisory Electric Utility Commission (EUC).    Most of the speakers voiced concerns about the impact that the proposed rate increase […]

Saying that Austin Energy needs its first increase in base rates in 17 years to recover its costs, utility officials yesterday released a report proposing rates that would increase the bills of AE’ s typical residential customers by about 11 percent and smaller users by about 70 percent.   Under the recommended rates, a residential […]

A pair of contracts from Austin Energy that will significantly increase its use of wind-generated energy are back before Council this week after they were mysteriously pulled from last week’s agenda by city staff.   The two agreements are to purchase some 291 megawatts of power from existing wind farms in South Texas.  However, those […]

Is the City of Austin using Austin Energy as its own version of an ATM?   This week the advisory Electric Utility Commission (EUC) once again came out strongly against the City Council’s use of millions of dollars of Austin Energy funds to fund non-energy programs – especially the city’s Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services […]

Is the City of Austin using Austin Energy as its own version of an ATM?   This week the advisory Electric Utility Commission (EUC) once again came out strongly against the City Council’s use of millions of dollars of Austin Energy funds to fund non-energy programs – especially the city’s Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services […]

Austin Energy officials are negotiating two major long-term agreements with private firms to purchase wind energy that will get the utility closer to its goal of providing renewable energy for the utility at a competitive price.    The wind projects would supply a total of 291 megawatts of electric generating capacity to Austin Energy, roughly […]

Austin Energy residential customers face possible rate increases that would be substantially higher than the 12 percent average that has been widely reported, according to preliminary figures presented to the advisory Electric Utility Commission (EUC) on Monday night.   The preliminary figures show that increases in monthly residential electric bills could be anywhere from 14 […]

Shudde Bess Bryson Fath, grande dame of Austin citizen activists, is a case study in longevity and perseverance when it comes to life and electric rates.   That perseverance – as well as her decades of experience with Austin Energy, the city-owned electric utility – could be particularly evident this summer and fall as the […]

As part of Austin Energy’s current review of its rates, the utility is seriously considering a fundamental change in its efforts to assist low-income customers. The change would incorporate low-income assistance into electric rates and would result in the near-tripling of the number of needy customers who could be helped. Under the plan, Austin Energy […]

Last week’s meeting of Austin Energy’s Public Involvement Committee (PIC) offered a sneak preview of what the utility, the City Council’s advisory Electric Utility Commission – and eventually the Council itself – can expect to hear this summer and fall from various customer groups about new electric rates currently under study. And, given many of […]

The long and arduous process of updating Austin Energy’s electric rates for the first time in 17 years is gaining traction.   Austin Energy is well into its work of drafting updated rate structures for residential, commercial and business customers. Rate increases are expected, but just how much rates will need to be adjusted for […]

The city is going to have to wait a little longer – and pay more – for its long-awaited new utility billing system for its 420,000 customers.   At Thursday’s meeting, the City Council is scheduled to consider adding $4.6 million to a contract between the city and IBM Corp. for the Customer Care & […]